Torino 2-3 Wolves: Visitors move closer to a place in Europa League group stage

Midfield maestro Joao Moutinho showed why he is first name on the Wolves team sheet as they took a major step towards qualifying for the Europa League group stages.

Moutinho started his seventh game in 28 days while younger legs were rested and manager Nuno Espirito Santo was fully rewarded for sticking with the 32-year-old playmaker.

The Portuguese international was key to the opening goal after 43 minutes of the play-off first leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

He battled to win a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and then whipped in the perfect delivery that saw Bremer inadvertently fick into his own net under pressure from Romain Saiss.

With Moutinho pulling the strings, Wolves built momentum and Adama Traore cut back for Diogo Jota to fire home a second goal after 59 minutes.

Lorenzo De Silvestri headed Torino back into the game after 61 minutes but Wolves then restored their two-goal lead 11 minutes later when Raul Jimenez dribbled through to score his fifth European goal of the campaign.

Torino's star striker Andrea Belotti salvaged some hope for his side ahead of Thursday's second leg at Molineux with a last-minute penalty after he'd been fouled by Ruben Vinagre.

'The tie is far from being over,' warned Nuno, in charge of Wolves' first European campaign since 1980.

'We played good tonight. We were organised, we stayed in shape and produced some goals. But, like I said there is still one game to go.'

On why Moutinho has been the only Wolves ever-present this season alongside skipper Conor Coady, the manager added: 'Because he respects himself and rests. And he is a fantastic player.

'It is a very busy schedule. We have to make good decisions so the team plays compact.'

While Moutinho is the apple of his manager's eye, 1,600 travelling Wolves fans chanted Traore's name after his thrilling run created the second goal.

The Spanish wing-back was a major reason six Torino players were booked – redemption after forgetting his passport for Wolves' previous away tie in Armenia.

Torino manager Walter Mazzarri said: 'We had more possession and shots but football isn't about facts. They are an expert team but it's definitely not over. We should have doubled up on Traore. We weren't able to close him down like we should have.'